DANVILLE — By a margin of more than 15 percent , Yell County voters approved a 1-cent sales tax to fund construction of a new jail facility Tuesday.

During the special election, 863 votes, or 58.2 percent, were cast in favor of the temporary 3/4-cent tax to fund construction of the facility. Six hundred and twenty voters, 41.8 percent, opposed the measure.

As a separate but related ballot item, 57.76 percent, or 860, of ballots were cast in favor of a permanent 1/4-cent sales tax for jail operations and maintenance; 629 voters, or 42.24 percent, opposed the measure.

Yell County Judge Mark Thone and Sheriff Bill Gilkey have been active proponents of the new jail, and both men were on hand as votes were being counted.

"The people of the county saw the need, and they got out and voted," Thone said. "We had a pretty good turnout for a special election — I think we're right up there around that 1,500 (voters) number. ... We're real pleased, and we're thankful for the citizens, that they saw there is a need and we needed something now, and we're going to be able to proceed."

Thone said he was unsure exactly when collections for the tax would begin. He said design work for the facility will begin right away, and groundbreaking could occur as early as summer. He said the estimated time for construction is 18 months to two years.

Cost of the new jail facility, to be constructed in Danville, is $7 million and will be funded via a 20-year bond.

Background

County officials cited inadequacy of current facilities in Dardanelle and Danville as the reason a new jail was needed. Neither of the existing facilities meet state guidelines or can be feasibly renovated to do so.

"Currently, the two existing jails at Danville and Dardanelle are not within state compliance and state jail standards," Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey said in a video statement posted on the department's Facebook page. "Both facilities were built in the latter part and completed in 1975. In 1976, the state of Arkansas came out with Arkansas Jail Standards, a measurement that all jails in Arkansas should be built by.

"Even though our two facilities were new in 1976, neither jail met the state standards. We have continued to operate this way for 25-plus years. It has come to the time — the state of Arkansas has done a recent inspection of our jails and said that our current facilities do not meet the compliance standards."

The Danville facility was placed on a six-month probation because the jail's cell space is not adequate. Because of physical and fiscal constraints, Gilkey said the jail cannot be brought into compliance.

"We feel that probably at the end of February or first of March when the state returns to make their inspections, that they will close the Danville jail at that time," Gilkey said.

While the Dardanelle jail faces similar problems, it has not been placed on probation at this time.

The proposed new facility would contain 75 beds and have the ability to be expanded in the future if necessary.